Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Government has always respected rulings of Constitutional Court (media)
• Blakaj: Special Prosecution indictment for civilians’ expulsion is important (media)
• Kosovo Chamber of Commerce files lawsuit against business power cuts (Koha)
• Maqedonci: We exceeded planned number of armored vehicles by 207% (media)
• EU Office welcomes in-principal approval of RTK’s loan request (media)
• Indictment filed against individual for inciting ethnic hatred (media)
• Streetball tournament organized in Mitrovica North on Sunday (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Ziadeh concludes her mandate as UNMIK Head: Opened new space for dialogue (Kosovo Online, social media)
• Arlov presents scholarships to students at Jarinje crossing point, denied entry to Kosovo for 19^th time (Radio KIM)
• Landfill at Orthodox cemetery in Caglavica (Radio KIM)
• Marko Jaksic mayoral candidate in Mitrovica North (Radio KIM)
• Metropolitan Teodosije from Banjska: “We are witnesses to suffering, but also to resurrection” (KoSSev)
• “We must be our neighbours’ sunshade and umbrella – never a threat to life“ Bishop Grigorije urges in Banjska Monastery (KoSSev, media)
• Ex-construction minister Vesic’s condition deteriorates, undergoes emergency surgery (N1)
• Six suspects in Cobras unit assault case questioned, five jailed, one under house arrest (N1)

Opinion:

• (No) context required: State violence against protesters in Serbia (BIRN)

International:

• US donates 50 armored vehicles to Kosovo (Railly News)
• Krasniqi-Goodman: Fighting for justice is what every survivor deserves (The Geopost)

Albanian Language Media

Kurti: Government has always respected rulings of Constitutional Court (media)

Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti said today that there is no decision by the Constitutional Court of Kosovo that the Kosovo Government - with him as Prime Minister - has not respected. He made these remarks when asked if he will respect the court’s decision on the constitution of the new Kosovo Assembly. “And there is no ruling by the Constitutional Court, which I, as leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, have not respected. But when you ask again if I will respect the ruling of the Constitutional Court, this makes me think that it will be unusual, unfair, intolerable, and that maybe we need to consider what to do,” he told reporters in Pristina today.

Kurti also said that when the whole decision of the Constitutional Court is made public, “we will make our merited assessment”. 

Blakaj: Special Prosecution indictment for civilians’ expulsion is important (media)

The Special Prosecution of Kosovo filed an indictment on August 15 against 21 persons for the criminal offence “war crimes against civilian population”. Bekim Blakaj, director of the Humanitarian Law Fund in Kosovo, said in an interview with Klan Kosova today that the indictment is important because it includes the expulsion of the civilian population that happened in many parts of Kosovo during the war. “Based on the conference [of the Special Prosecution] we learned that they worked on preparing the indictment for over five years,” he said.

Blakaj also said that he hopes that the prosecution secured evidence also from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, “because in all three cases against senior political, police and military officials of Serbia that stood trial at the Tribunal, one of the elements of war crimes was also the expulsion of people”.

Kosovo Chamber of Commerce files lawsuit against business power cuts (Koha)

The Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (KCC) announced that it is filing a lawsuit with the Supreme Court against the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) over the disconnection of hundreds of businesses from the electricity grid.

KCC President Lulzim Rafuna said the move challenges ERO’s decision to cut off companies that had not signed contracts with electricity suppliers, despite being required to join the open market after liberalization took effect on June 1, 2025.

Rafuna argued that the disconnections, around 450 businesses so far, were unlawful, unfair, and damaging to the economy. He criticized the weekend cutoffs, saying they left businesses without power for days and created the false impression that they were illegal operators.

The ERO stated that businesses meeting the criteria for the open market but lacking contracts must secure suppliers, as temporary supply through KEK as the “Supplier of Last Resort” has ended.

Maqedonci: Exceeded planned number of armored vehicles by 207 percent (media)

Kosovo’s acting Minister of Defense, Ejup Maqedonci, said in a Facebook post that the Kosovo Security Force received the second contingent of armored vehicles purchased from the United States of America, “thus further strengthening the fleet of armored vehicles of the Kosovo Army”. He said that “according to the Comprehensive Transition Plan for the Kosovo Security Force, a 10-year plan drafted in 2018 and approved in January 2019, within ten years, i.e. by 2028, the Kosovo Security Force should have several dozen armored vehicles. But so far, in 2025, i.e. three years earlier, the Kosovo army has been equipped with several hundred armored vehicles, exceeding by exactly 207 percent the number of armored vehicles foreseen by the Comprehensive Transition Plan, which the KSF was planned to have after three years - in 2028”.

EU Office welcomes in-principal approval of RTK’s loan request (media)

Most news websites report that the European Union Office in Kosovo has welcomed the caretaker government’s in-principal approval of RTK’s loan request as “an important yet minimal step to ensure its continuity & the public’s right to information”. “The EU urges swift adoption of the RTK Law to secure sustainable funding & financial stability,” the office said in a Facebook post.

Indictment filed against an individual for inciting ethnic hatred and intolerance (media)

The Special Prosecution of Kosovo has filed an indictment against S.C. in the Basic Court in Pristina for inciting ethnic hatred and intolerance during a religious celebration in Strpce on June 10, 2025. He is accused of deliberately provoking ethnic divisions, thereby disturbing public order and security. The prosecution has requested that the court find him guilty and impose a sentence in accordance with the law.

Streetball tournament organized in Mitrovica North on Sunday (media)

Several news websites report that a streetball tournament was organized in a square in Mitrovica North on Sunday, organized by the municipality of Mitrovica North, renowned Kosovo basketball player Drilon Hajrizi and the Kosovo Basketball Federation. Klan Kosova reports that the tournament brought together a large number of participants and a big audience “creating a festive environment and spirit of cooperation”. RTK reports that Kosovo’s acting Minister of Interior Affairs Xhelal Svecla also played in the tournament. 

Serbian Language Media 

Ziadeh concludes her mandate as UNMIK Head: Opened new space for dialogue (Kosovo Online, social media)

Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of UNMIK, Caroline Ziadeh will conclude her mandate this month, the UN said in a Facebook post, Kosovo Online portal reported.

According to the statement, during her tenure as Head of UNMIK, Ziadeh created spaces for dialogue, empowered youth and women to lead on their own terms, and safeguarded fragile but vital spaces. She reaffirmed that peacekeeping is not just about presence but about purpose.

Caroline Ziadeh was appointed Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of UNMIK on November 19, 2021, the portal recalled.  

Arlov presents scholarships to students at Jarinje crossing point, denied entry to Kosovo for 19^th time (Radio KIM)

Chair of the Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) humanitarian organization Committee for Helping Serbs in Kosovo, Momcilo Arlov presented scholarships in amount of 4.000 euros to nine Serbian children from Kosovo, at the Serbian side of Jarinje crossing point on Sunday, as he was not allowed to enter Kosovo, Radio KIM reported.

Arlov said the aim was to help students and their families ahead of the school year, in particular as they come from larger families and some need funds for medical treatments.

He said this is the 19^th time that Pristina authorities banned him from entering Kosovo. “I have sent request and plea on August 11, and this is the 19^th time they refused my request to enter Kosovo and Metohija (…)”, Arlov said, adding he never received an explanation as to why he was not allowed to enter and that his pleas to international community and others to help him resolve the issue were in vain. He also pledged that despite the ban he will continue with humanitarian projects to help Serbian people in Kosovo that will only get stronger. 

Landfill at Orthodox cemetery in Caglavica (Radio KIM)

A smaller landfill appeared at the corner of Serbian Orthodox cemetery in Caglavica village, near Gracanica, Radio KIM reported over the weekend. It appears to be of a recent date. Given the location of a landfill, at the very corner of the cemetery, it is clear that it was not made by those visiting the graveyards of their beloved buried at this cemetery, Radio KIM added.

Another, much larger landfill containing construction waste and unusable materials, along with the rubbish is located on the side of the road passing next to the Orthodox cemetery in this village. Radio KIM also published the photos of the mentioned landfills. 

Marko Jaksic mayoral candidate in Mitrovica North (Radio KIM)

Marko Jaksic, former Mitrovica North municipal assembly councilor, legal professional and civic activist is a mayoral candidate in Mitrovica North, Radio KIM reported.

In a post on X social platform, Jaksic confirmed that the Central Election Commission certified his candidacy as well as his civic initiative North for All, formally announcing his participation in a mayoral race.

Until now, there were two more candidates for Mitrovica North mayor, Milan Radojevic from Serbian List and current Albanian mayor Erden Atiq, from Self-determination ranks.

Metropolitan Teodosije from Banjska: “We are witnesses to suffering, but also to resurrection” (KoSSev)

“We are witnesses in Kosovo and Metohija to our suffering and to the cross, but we are also witnesses to resurrection and renewal”, Metropolitan Teodosije said on Friday from Banjska Monastery, KoSSev portal reported.

The monastery celebrated its patronal feast – the Translation of the Relics of St. Stephen the Protomartyr and Archdeacon – with a liturgy attended by a large number of faithful. The service was led by Bishop Grigorije of Dusseldorf and Germany, Metropolitan Teodosije, and Bishop Ilarion of Novo Brdo, joined by the clergy and monastics of the Eparchy.

The occasion also marked the 21st anniversary of the revival of monastic life at Banjska Monastery, which had lain abandoned for 520 years until August 15, 2004, when the late Serbian Patriarch Pavle celebrated the first hierarchical liturgy there with fellow bishops.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/3Xd8X

“We must be our neighbours’ sunshade and umbrella – never a threat to life“ Bishop Grigorije urges in Banjska Monastery (KoSSev, media)

Addressing the faithful during the feast day of the Banjska Monastery, Bishop Grigorije delivered a message of endurance, compassion, and the sanctity of life, urging believers to resist hatred even in the face of hostility from neighbours, KoSSev portal reported on Friday.

“Brothers and sisters, however painful it may be, and no matter how emotionally charged we feel when we step into this sacred land – because our neighbors are not good to us – we must remember that they are our neighbours”, he said.

“We must sometimes be their sunshade, sometimes their umbrella, but never, ever a threat to life. Without this, there is no salvation for us. This is the Gospel. This is why we have endured here so far – and the only way we will continue to endure and overcome evil”.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/fpqRJ

Ex-construction minister Vesic’s condition deteriorates, undergoes emergency surgery (N1)

Serbian former minister of construction, transport, and infrastructure Goran Vesic underwent another emergency surgery overnight following a sudden deterioration in his health, his brother Zoran Vesic said, N1 reported.

Goran Vesic was first hospitalized for surgery on July 31 after presenting with severe abdominal pain, a high fever, vomiting, weakness, and dehydration, according to a previous report from Euronews.rs.

This development follows the news from three days ago that both Vesic and another former minister of construction, transport, and infrastructure, Tomislav Momirovic, had their custody arrangements changed to a less severe measure of house arrest, Nova.rs reported. Both were arrested as part of a financial investigation into the reconstruction of Novi Sad main train station and its tracks.

Six suspects in Cobras unit assault case questioned, five jailed, one under house arrest (N1)

Six people detained on Friday in Novi Sad on suspicion of attacking members of the Cobras military police unit during a protest last Wednesday in this city were questioned overnight and five of the suspects were ordered into pretrial detention, N1 reported. The five have been sent to the Novi Sad County jail. The sixth individual was placed under house arrest due to a prior medical history.

The Special Purpose Military Police Detachment Cobras is a Serbian Armed Forces (SAF) unit directly subordinated to the Chief of the SAF General Staff intended for the security and counter-terrorist protection of specific individuals and facilities, as stated on the SAF website.

On Monday morning, responding to a call from students, residents of Novi Sad began gathering outside of the city’s courthouse, which houses courts and prosecutor’s offices. They are demanding the release of all those detained, who they consider political prisoners. They say that the law is being applied selectively and that people are being arrested at random, announcing continuation of protest until they are released.

Opinion

(No) context required: State violence against protesters in Serbia (BIRN)

Opinion by Luka Glusac 

Serbia’s Aleksandar Vucic has unleashed the full and frightening force of a state security apparatus moulded to answer only to him.

When a photograph surfaced a few days ago on social media showing a police officer striking a woman during protests in Belgrade, the Serbian Interior Ministry rushed to assure the public that the image had been “taken out of context”.

What “context” could possibly excuse a video showing a dozen uniformed officers striking a number of young men with batons over 100 times as they lie defenceless on the ground in the western town of Valjevo? Or footage of dozens of youths kneeling, hands tied behind their backs, each guarded by a police officer?

Whatever the context, the first case is a textbook example of excessive force; the second is abuse and degrading treatment.

Photographs and videos exposing police brutality in Serbia are multiplying at breakneck speed.

Once upon a time, protesters faced arrest by uniformed police or plainclothes public order officers; today, nobody knows who might beat you, detain you, or drag you off the street.

This is not the result of decentralisation and reorganisation of policing in Serbia, but the hallmark of an autocrat tightening his grip on the country. And here, yes, context is required.

Under Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia has not matured into a democracy but consolidated into an autocracy.

The security sector has been reshaped, not to protect citizens, but to protect the regime.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/axUtV

International

US Donates 50 Armored Vehicles to Kosovo (Railly News)

The United States has provided 50 units to the Kosovo Security Forces (KSF) under the Excess Defense Materials Program. M1117 Guardian donated the armored vehicle. The handover ceremony held on August 15 was attended by the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti and Minister of Defense Ejup MacedonciIn addition to officials from the US Embassy, this delivery was also attended. This delivery is considered an important step towards the modernization of the Kosovo Security Forces and their compliance with NATO standards.

Strong Partnership and Modernization Emphasis

Kosovo Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci described the US as a "strategic and irreplaceable partner," emphasizing their commitment to Western values and US Army doctrine. Maqedonci stated that these resources will transform the KSF into a sophisticated force capable of close cooperation with the armies of NATO member states. The US Embassy in Kosovo also stated that this grant is part of the two countries' shared commitment to strengthening their security.

Features of the M1117 Guardian

M1117 Guardian, American Textron Marine & Land Systems This 14-ton armored vehicle was designed and manufactured by the US Military Police. Originally developed for the US military police, it has been used primarily in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The vehicle's key features include:

Armor: The ceramic composite external modular expandable armor system protects the crew, ammunition and fuel tanks against ballistic threats.

Crew: It has a crew of four.

Weapon Systems: It is equipped with a one-man, unstabilized turret armed with a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher and a .50 caliber machine gun (M2/M48).

These new tools will significantly increase the capacity of the Kosovo Security Forces to fulfill their constitutional mission.

Krasniqi-Goodman: Fighting for justice is what every survivor deserves (The Geopost)

Vasfije Krasniqi-Goodman was 16 years old when she was sexually assaulted during the Kosovo War. She became the first Albanian woman to break the social stigma and publicly speak out about the violence she suffered at the hands of Serbian militants.

Since then, advocating for the rights of victims has become her life’s work. She positions herself as a social activist who is a survivor and demands change. Her voice is heard from the high rostrums of the United States Congress, where Vasfije and her family currently live, and the Kosovo Assembly, where she was a deputy.

Vasfije Krasniqi-Goodman spoke about her journey from victim to survivor in an exclusive interview with The Geopost.

Krasniqi-Goodman: I grew up in the village Stanovc i Ulët. I’m the youngest of nine children. Growing up in Kosovo in the 80s and 90s, it wasn’t always easy. But we had a lovely family. Since I was the youngest, I always felt very loved and well-treated by everybody. I was an outgoing child. I was always very friendly and yeah, those are the things I do have very fond memories of my childhood. Very fond memories.

The Geopost: Vasfije, you are the first woman in Kosovo to speak out publicly about the sexual violence you experienced during the war. What motivated you to take this step? Was it a difficult decision to make?

Krasniqi-Goodman: After Justice failed me through the trust, in 2013 I came to the point where I felt like I wasn’t going to lose anything by speaking up and telling the world what we went through. At that time, I was not involved that much with Kosovo and activists or anything like that. So, when I decided to speak up, I talked to Dr. Feride Rushiti from the Kosovo Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims. And I remember she was like, “are you sure you want to speak up? This is a big deal to speak up in Kosovo”. And I said: “Of course, I have my daughter’s support, my siblings and my husband and nothing will stop me”. And that was 7 years ago, soon it will be 8.

I am very glad I took this step. So, the world knows what Serbian criminals did to women, men, and children in Kosovo, and that it was not our fault. There is nothing to be ashamed of what has happened. We need to speak everybody needs to speak about rapes in conflicts.

The Geopost: Do you remember your first public speech? What were the reactions of society, media, family, other people?

Krasniqi-Goodman: Oh, I do remember. It had this impact that I couldn’t ever imagine the impact that it did have. I figured when I came forward with my story, it would help survivors. I know the society will take it such close to heart and the support I got from everybody including from the farmers in villages and all the way to the president. Everybody was on my side. Everybody supported me.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/h3jbO